CANBERRA, Oct 22 (Reuters) - A self-styled sheik has been arrested in Australia
over letters sent to widows of soldiers killed in Afghanistan, accusing their
partners of murder, as Canberra mulls an early withdrawal from the troubled
country.

The Iranian-born Muslim spiritual leader, who calls himself
Mufti Sheik Haron, was charged with sending hate mail to families of seven
Australian soldiers killed fighting Taliban and al Qaeda militants in
Afghanistan over a two-year period.

"I feel bad that you have lost your
son but I don't feel bad that a murderer of innocent civilians has lost his
life," Haron allegedly wrote to the family of one Australian commando killed in
January, the Daily Telegraph newspaper said on Thursday.

Haron denied the
charges after his arrest. But New South Wales state Premier Nathan Rees said on
Thursday that if proven true, the letters were an "evil act of
cowardice".

Australia, a close U.S. ally, has 1,550 troops in
Afghanistan, including special forces, and is the largest non-NATO troop
contributor. Ten Australian soldiers have died fighting alongside Dutch forces
in southern Oruzgan province.

CANBERRA, Oct 22 (Reuters) - A self-styled sheik has been arrested in Australia
over letters sent to widows of soldiers killed in Afghanistan, accusing their
partners of murder, as Canberra mulls an early withdrawal from the troubled
country.

The Iranian-born Muslim spiritual leader, who calls himself
Mufti Sheik Haron, was charged with sending hate mail to families of seven
Australian soldiers killed fighting Taliban and al Qaeda militants in
Afghanistan over a two-year period.

"I feel bad that you have lost your
son but I don't feel bad that a murderer of innocent civilians has lost his
life," Haron allegedly wrote to the family of one Australian commando killed in
January, the Daily Telegraph newspaper said on Thursday.

Haron denied the
charges after his arrest. But New South Wales state Premier Nathan Rees said on
Thursday that if proven true, the letters were an "evil act of
cowardice".

Australia, a close U.S. ally, has 1,550 troops in
Afghanistan, including special forces, and is the largest non-NATO troop
contributor. Ten Australian soldiers have died fighting alongside Dutch forces
in southern Oruzgan province.